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K1221n

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 20, 2017
46
15
Supposedly a new mini is in the works for 2020 with mini LED screen, explains why it was on the caution list buyers guide, is this a big enough reason to wait on buying ?
 
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I got the impression it could be released in 2020 or 2021. Not sure which year is more likely, but I imagine it won’t be one of the first iPads to go mini LED. I’m pretty sure the iPad Pro will get it first.
 
That mini LED, greater screen resolution and new features found in the iPhone 11 Max will be moving to the 2020/2021 iPad Mini. A14, 6GB RAM, Face ID, rear cameras, bezel less glass and improvements in technology. Of course the price will be bumped up too.
 
The current Mini 5 is just a miniature Air 3 at $100 cheaper. So, if the Mini 5 is getting mini LEDs, I suspect the new Air will get it also. But I agree with others that the new Pro will get it first.
 
That mini LED, greater screen resolution and new features found in the iPhone 11 Max will be moving to the 2020/2021 iPad Mini. A14, 6GB RAM, Face ID, rear cameras, bezel less glass and improvements in technology. Of course the price will be bumped up too.

Greater resolution, in the 11 Pro Max? Compared to what?

I am not convinced that the mini will see much if any updates this year but one can hope of course. Re redesign would be nice. If that comes along the price is likely to go up.
 
The Mini is only on the caution list because it has historically had more frequent updates (and for some reason the killing of the lower storage capacities on the Mini 4 registered as a release.) The statuses are set based on averages.

I don’t see a new Mini until at least 2022.

With that said I now only buy Apple products just after release and if you did wait, and decided the new Mini wasn’t worth it, you could pick up a decent refurb deal or the last of the Mini 5.
 
I doubt the mini will get a refresh anytime soon. Probably 2022 at the earliest or even at all. Apple put quite beefy specs in the 5 that should last purchasers for years. The only thing it lacks is an updated screen design and does the market demand a redesigned Mini?
 
I recently picked up a Mini 5 to go along with my Pro 11”... that was about 2 months ago and I’ve been using the Mini about 85 to 90% of the time as far as iPad use is concerned. What prompted me to get the mini was that along with it being a great size for reading ebooks, the portability and lighter form factor played a crucial role in my purchase decision. I still use my Pro 11” on occasion but I never realized how much I missed using an iPad mini as my main iPad until I tried it again after a few years of using larger iPads.

When the rumors started about a Mini LED iPad Pro being in the works I was sure I was gonna want to get that when it’s finally released. But then I read about the Mini LED iPad mini and I honestly think I’d rather go with that. If they give it a fresh new design with smaller bezels and maybe face I.D. and provided it’s not ridiculously expensive I can pretty much guarantee that I’ll be picking one of those up!!!

I like to switch it up every now then when good upgrades come out and the mini is the perfect size and form factor for my use case. So a redesigned mini that looks a little more modern for 2020 or 2021 with upgraded specs and the benefits of Mini LED is pretty much my dream tablet... crossing my fingers that it comes to be!!!

 
The iPad Mini will be a year old in 8 days. A refresh would be ideal. Not holding my breath for no home button iPad Mini, but at least the A13X.
 
I recently picked up a Mini 5 to go along with my Pro 11”... that was about 2 months ago and I’ve been using the Mini about 85 to 90% of the time as far as iPad use is concerned. What prompted me to get the mini was that along with it being a great size for reading ebooks, the portability and lighter form factor played a crucial role in my purchase decision. I still use my Pro 11” on occasion but I never realized how much I missed using an iPad mini as my main iPad until I tried it again after a few years of using larger iPads.

When the rumors started about a Mini LED iPad Pro being in the works I was sure I was gonna want to get that when it’s finally released. But then I read about the Mini LED iPad mini and I honestly think I’d rather go with that. If they give it a fresh new design with smaller bezels and maybe face I.D. and provided it’s not ridiculously expensive I can pretty much guarantee that I’ll be picking one of those up!!!

I like to switch it up every now then when good upgrades come out and the mini is the perfect size and form factor for my use case. So a redesigned mini that looks a little more modern for 2020 or 2021 with upgraded specs and the benefits of Mini LED is pretty much my dream tablet... crossing my fingers that it comes to be!!!

What do you think the current age group of iPad mini 5 users is.....would many people over 40 buy one.?
 
What do you think the current age group of iPad mini 5 users is.....would many people over 40 buy one.?
There seem to be a number of seniors on MobileRead who like to use the iPad mini 5 as a bigger but still relatively lightweight cross-platform alternative to store-linked e-ink readers like the Kindle and Kobo.

iPad mini 5: 7.9"

Kindle (basic): 6"
Kindle Paperwhite: 6"
Kindle Oasis: 7"

Kobo Clara HD: 6"
Kobo Libra H2O: 7"
Kobo Aura One: 7.8"
Kobo Forma: 8"
 
A pro, min LED, A14, iPad Mini makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, Apple might not see it that way.

Not enough Mini love in the world.
 
What do you think the current age group of iPad mini 5 users is.....would many people over 40 buy one.?

I can't speculate as to the average age group of iPad Mini 5 users, but I can speak for myself and say that I am 41 years old and have always been a fan of the Mini ever since the first one was released. I've had every iPad Mini except the 3rd gen and I had multiple iPad Mini 2s over the years but not at the same time (sold one, bought another at a later date)...

I also am a big fan of the other sizes of iPads too. As far as what I've noticed out in the wild though, just coming from one person's experience noticing what people around me are using, I have seen people of all ages using iPad Minis throughout the years including elderly, middle aged and young people.

Then there's also the question of who the iPad mini is ideal for which is a whole different subject. I think in that case I would have to say (at the risk of stating the obvious) that the iPad Pro is probably better suited to professionals of some sort while the Mini is probably better suited to people mostly interested in media consumption but that's certainly not to say that the two iPads can't be used in the opposite way... for instance I personally know from experience that the iPad Pro makes a great media consumption device and I know that the Mini 5 with it's A12 Bionic chip and 3GB of RAM and true tone retina screen can handle some light professional work at the very least. Plus with the Apple Pencil support I can imagine some professional artists, possibly, actually preferring the smaller size for a variety of reasons.

A mini Pro might just be the best of both worlds though... Is there a market for that device? I certainly hope so, cause I for one will be first in line to pick one of those up!!

:)
 
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A mini Pro might just be the best of both worlds though... Is there a market for that device? I certainly hope so, cause I for one will be first in line to pick one of those up!!

:)
There's a market for it to be sure. The question is whether Apple thinks the market for a 7.9" iPad Pro (likely at $699) is big enough for them to cater to.
 
There's a market for it to be sure. The question is whether Apple thinks the market for a 7.9" iPad Pro (likely at $699) is big enough for them to cater to.
Yeah... might be wishful thinking on my part... but, when u think about it, a 256GB iPad Mini 5 and an Apple pencil costs about $699 give or take... so it's not too much of a streatch.
 
Yeah... might be wishful thinking on my part... but, when u think about it, a 256GB iPad Mini 5 and an Apple pencil costs about $699 give or take... so it's not too much of a streatch.
Top config of iPad mini 5 (256GB LTE) is $679 for device only. ;)

Based on Air 3-Pro 11 pricing disparity, that's just gonna be bottom end of the scale if Apple does release a Pro 7.9.

Pro 7.9
64/256/512 Wi-Fi $699/849/1049
64/256/512 LTE $849/999/1199

Mind, that's assuming the form factor has sufficient space and can provide sufficient cooling for the X version chipsets with beefed up GPUs while maintaining good battery life.
 
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